2 members of football squad join police

KABUL): Two members of the national football team that clinched the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Sunday joined Afghan national police, officials said.

Hashmatullah Barakzai and Rafi Barakzai announced their decision at an award-giving ceremony at the Ministry of Interior in the honour of the champions.

Both footballers, who performed well in the eight-nation event, said they had joined the police force voluntarily due to their innate flair for the job and their desire to serve the people.

In his speech, acting interior minister Mohammad Omar Daudzai praised the achievement of the football team, saying the two players could join police ranks from Monday.

At the ceremony, all players promised cooperation with the force, saying they would act as police ambassadors. To resolve players’ transportation problems, the ministry granted them two jeeps.

myn/mud